In the next five days, tens of thousands of vehicles will travel back to Fort McMurray, Alta., as some residents started making their way home on Wednesday.

Over 80,000 people were evacuated on May 3, once wildfire entered the community. A month later, they're finally returning home.

The RCMP are increasing their presence on the highways between Edmonton and Fort McMurray, including Highway 63 and 881, where evacuees will be travelling.

Two weeks ago, the provincial government — under Premier Rachel Notley — established five criteria Fort McMurray had to meet for re-entry to begin.

Notley said Tuesday the fire is not threatening the community, crucial infrastructure repairs are complete, essential services are up and running, hazards are secured and the local government in place, meaning many residents could begin re-entry.

“Incredible progress has been made very quickly, and for that I would like to thank everyone who has worked tirelessly to make Fort McMurray safe and livable once again,” Notley said.

Still, she warned residents of what they might expect.

“Despite the significant work that has been done, the city today is not the city that residents left behind a month ago,” she continued. “The strength of the people of Fort McMurray in the face of this adversity continues to impress me every single day.

“There is still a long road ahead of us, and we will travel it together. Alberta continues to stand with you.”

The areas of Abasand, Beacon Hill and Waterways are being left out of the return at this time, due to potentially toxic debris in the surrounding areas.

Photo Credit: Fort McMurray Fire Pictures on Facebook.

According to the provincial government, 567 homes and 12 apartment complexes that were not destroyed are still unsafe.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and Alberta Environment and Parks have each conducted air, soil and ash testing of the fire-damaged areas, both which confirmed the presence of potentially dangerous chemicals.

The government is warning people that while some individual homes might be structurally sound, the neighourhoods as a whole are not. To mitigate the situation, a powdery substance called a tackifier — that dries to a hard shell — prevents ash and other contaminants from becoming airborne. It's being applied to debris in damaged areas. Plans are being set up for residents to visit homes temporarily in some affected areas.

For those who are travelling home today, a traffic plan has been developed.

Each area of Fort McMurray has been sectioned off, and residents in different zones will be given times to return home, starting at 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday for people from Zone 1, including the Lower Townsite, Anzac, Fort McMurray First Nation and Gregoire Lake Estates.

Zone 2 will follow Thursday, while residents from Zones 3 and 4A will begin their return Friday. Phase 4B begins Saturday, June 4, for Grayling Terrace and Draper.

The urgent care facility is running and will be in use until the hospital is fully operational.

Some local stores opened over the weekend, but returning residents are being urged to bring a two-week supply of basic necessities, including food, drinking water and prescriptions. A boil-water advisory remains in effect for the area of Fort McMurray, along with an air-quality advisory.

The Fort McMurray wildfire is still classified as out-of-control and is about 581,695 hectares in size, including the Saskatchewan side.

There are 2,360 firefighters and support staff, 96 helicopters and 279 pieces of heavy equipment battling this fire, which only grew a small amount this week.

Wildfire crews from across the world are supporting Alberta’s efforts, including 299 firefighters from South Africa who are expected to be on the ground Wednesday.

By Tuesday, the Red Cross had raised more than $104 million for Fort McMurray, not including matching funds.